Pipe-wrench.



R. L. UNDERWOOD.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15,1911.

1,080,607. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANonn/lm cu., wAsmNuTnN, u, c.

UNTED STATES ROBERT Il. UNDERWOOD, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913i Application filed March 15, 1911. Serial No. 614,747.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Ronnn'r L. UNDER- wooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipeldlienclies, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pipe-wrenches, the primary object of the invention being to provide a generally improved wrench of this class of exceedingly simple, cheap, durable, and eflicient construction, which by reason of perfection in details to meet the objects hereinafter referred to will be better adapted to its intended purposes than any other device of the same class with which I am acquainted.

The objects of the invention may be briefly set forth as follows: First: to provide a wrench which will prevent the crushing or breaking of pipe by the jaws while in active working engagement therewith by 'the provision and cooperation of a head or jaw block in which the lower jaw is pivo-ted and with which the latter' is adapted to coperate in its gripping and releasing movements. Second: to provide a springless wrench of this class, which may be readily and quickly adjusted to meet the varying demands of actual service and which will enable the jaw members to be readily released by the mere releasing movement of the operating handle. rllhird: to provide a wrench of great strength and durability by the arrangement and distribution of the parts whereby they will cooperate with each other in such a manner as to distribute the strains or stresses in the active or gripping movements of the wrench in operation.

vVith the above objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l, is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, a sectional view of the head or jaw block, the jaw and shank members being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3, a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

rlhe improved wrench comprises a head or jaw block l, provided at its rear with a shank receiving opening 2, and at its front with a handle receiving opening 3, said handle receiving opening terminating in an enlarged jaw receiving opening 3, at the bevel ed or lla ring pipe receiving portion 3, of the block or head l. The jaw receiving opening 3, is provided at its rear with a socket-bearing 3, in close proximity to the shank receiving opening 2, and the rear portion of the head, 1, is provided with a nut receiving recess 3, intersecting said shank receiving opening. The shank receiving opening Q, is adapted to receive and contain a threaded shank 4, adjustably mounted therein by means of a knurled adjusting nut 5, said shank il, terminating at its upper end in a jaw (i, ovcrhanging the jaw or pipe receiving portions of the head or aw block l.

An operating handle 7, extends through the handle receiving opening B, and is provided with a jaw 7, pivotally and movably mounted in the jaw receiving opening 3, by means of a cylindrical pivot bearing portion 7, seated in the soclt-bearing 3, and

'retained therein by means of a pivot pin or member LS. The handle 7, and jaw 7, are adapted to be freely oscillated within the open portions 8 and 3, said handle being adapted to have a free movement in the handle opening 3, and to be stopped in its forward movement as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, by abutting against the stop or shoulder portion 3, of the handle opening l, as ixu'licated, it being obvious that the free and limited movements of said handle and jaw from said pivot bearing and in said handle receiving opening will cause the jaw to be projected and retracted in the head or jaw bleek in the numipulation of the wrench in its movements of successively engaging and releasing the pipe while in use. lVhen the teeth or scrrations of the jaws have embedded themselves in the walls of the pipe during the bite of the wrench, and the handle 7, is moved to its rearward or releasing position as indicated by full lines in the drawings, the jaw portion 7, will be retracted within the head or jaw block 1, thus bringing the smooth inclined or flaring pipe receiving portions 3b, in contact with the pipe, the inclination of said pipe-receiving portions facilitating a new adjustment of the wrench on the pipe for the next engagement of the same by the wrench. vWhen the handle 7 is moved to its engaging position thus projecting the jaw 7a into engagement with the pipe as indicated in F ig. 2, the serrations of thejaws are embedded in the walls of the pipe to a limited extent only, and any tendency of the pipe to crush or break will be counteracted by the engagement of the smooth pipe receiving portions 3b, of the head block l, at the sides of the lower jaw 7a.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. A pipe-wrench, comprising a jaw-block provided with shank and handle openings extending therethrough, said handle opening terminating in an enlarged jaw opening on the pipe-receiving side of said jaw-block and spaced from the marginal edges of the latter leaving smooth marginal pipe receiving portions thereon7 said jaw openingterminating at its rear in a socket bearing in close proximity to said shank opening, a threaded shank adjustably mounted in said shank opening and carrying an overhanging jaw, and a handle extending through said handle openingA and provided with a jaw having a cylindrical pivot bearing portion seated in said socket bearing, said last mentioned jaw having a free but limited movement in said jaw block and being retracted within the latter when moved to a pipe releasing position thereby bringing said smooth marginal pipe receiving portions in contact with the pipe, the Hare or inclination of said portions facilitating a new adjustment on the latter for the next engagement of the same by the wrench.

2. A pipe-wrench, comprising a flaring jawblock provided with shank and handle openings extending therethrough, said handle opening terminating in an enlarged jaw opening spaced from the marginal edges of the flaring or pipe receiving side of said jaw block, a threaded shank mounted in said shank opening and carrying an overhanging jaw extending at an acute angle to the said flaring or pipe receiving side of said jaw block, and a handle extending through said handle opening and provided with an en larged jaw head pivoted on said jaw block in close proximity to said threaded shank, said handle having a limited movement whereby said jaw is retracted within said jaw block when moved to a pipe releasing position and is projected above the latter when moved to a pipe engaging position, thereby embedding the serrations of said jaws in the walls of the pipe to a limited ext-ent only.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. UNDERWGOD.

Vitnesses:

JAMES FOLEY, E. J. UNDnRwooD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

